An Introduction to Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and AI

With algorithms driving purchases and clicks all over the internet, nationwide facial recognition systems starting to come online in foreign nations, and autonomous vehicles on the horizon, there seems to be shroud of fear surrounding anything having to do with AI. Some of these fears are very legitimate, but many of these fears may simply […]

Best Practices for a Data Collection Event Using a GPS Unit

I have been a part of three different data collection efforts that collected line geometry and infrastructure of recreational trails. One effort was the development of the Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) Trails Inventory Program. This effort involved collecting trails data in FWS national wildlife refuges across the United States. The second was an effort […]

Managing Geospatial Data Models With a PIM API

Much of the conceptual background and structure managing a geospatial data model using a platform-independent model (PIM) has been outlined in previous posts. And while it is useful to understand how the PIM is structured in the tables and views inside the PIM database, the critical knowledge relates to the way the PIM API retrieves […]

The PIM Constraint, Improving Geospatial Database Integrity

The PIM now contains sets of features (the pimFeature) grouped into sets (the pimConfiguration) with properties and referencing sets of attributes (the pimAttribute). For may GIS solutions, this is all that is required for collecting, validating, and displaying geospatial data. But the PIM also contains the ability to constrain attribute values in a variety of […]

Understanding Geospatial Data Rules in the Platform Independent Model (PIM)

This post continues a series describing our approach to using a platform-independent approach to managing data models and standards. In any situation where a geospatial data model is agreed upon and adopted by multiple participants, management of the model itself becomes a significant issue. Over time, modifications to the model are required. Such modification can […]

Expanding Usefulness of Geospatial Data Standards

Background: While many organizations see the clear advantages of establishing and using geospatial data standards, obtaining compliance from constituents continues to be a frustrating, and costly, problem. Users are frequently reluctant to adopt a new standard given the potential cost of modifying applications that use an existing, custom schema or simply having a ‘not invented […]

Spatial Data Standards for Facilities, Infrastructure and Environment (SDSFIE): Five Fundamental Tools

The Spatial Data Standards for Facilities, Infrastructure and Environment (SDSFIE) is the single Department of Defense spatial data standard that supports common implementation and interoperability for installations, environment, and civil works missions. SDSFIE is being managed by the Defense Installations Spatial Data Infrastructure (DISDI) Group. The DISDI Group is a formal governance group reporting to […]

Implementing Data Encryption With Symmetric Keys in Microsoft SQL Server

Starting with the 2005 version, Microsoft SQL Server has included new encryption capabilities that all administrators, programmers and database analyst should be aware of. Since then SQL Server has been able to natively support both hashing and encryption. When planning your encryption or hashing solution, first you need to decide if you will be storing […]